Energy resource network

ABSTRACT

An energy resource network with plurality of energy resources) each capable of delivering a quantum of energy; and a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of accepting a quantum of energy. Each energy resource is associated with an energy-resource-processor which is configured to issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource Each energy-consuming-device is associated with at least one energy-consuming-processor) that is configured to receive one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources The energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor being configured to issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to foreign application GB 1504946.3, filed Mar. 24, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as fully set forth herein.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to energy resource networks and in particular energy transactions between energy resources and energy-consuming-devices.

BACKGROUND

In existing energy distribution networks, such as electrical power distribution networks, electrical power is commonly distributed to end users or energy consumers by an energy supplier who obtains electrical power from one or more electricity generators. The system is generally centralised in that each energy consumer's usage is metered and recorded by the energy supplier, who invoices the energy consumers for the power used. The energy supplier simultaneously secures supplies of energy from the one or more electricity generators for delivery of power to the energy consumers.

Local generation of electrical energy by energy consumers themselves, for example by domestic-scale solar panels or wind turbines etc may be transferred to the network, for example by compensating meter readings for that energy consumer which are transmitted to the energy supplier.

A significant increase in interest in decentralised power generation and distribution, for example using many smaller scale local power generation units, may require alternative strategies for enabling more localised and distributed control, monitoring and implementing of energy exchange.

DISCLOSURE

Aspects of some exemplars include an energy resource network comprising:

-   -   a plurality of energy resources each capable of delivering a         quantum of energy;     -   a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of         accepting a quantum of energy;     -   each energy resource being associated with an         energy-resource-processor configured to issue one or more         offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for         supply from the energy resource;     -   each energy-consuming-device being associated with an         energy-consuming-processor configured to receive one or more         offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a         quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; and     -   the energy-resource-processor and/or the         energy-consuming-processor being configured to issue a         cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction         for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.

The energy resource network may further comprise a plurality of third party nodes, each configured to locally store and maintain the publicly-available distributed ledger. The third party nodes may each be configured to identify, and store locally, a correct version of the publicly-available distributed ledger as the version of the publicly-available distributed ledger that is most commonly stored on the plurality of third party nodes.

The energy resource network may further comprise a third party node configured to:

-   -   perform a verification routine on one or more         cryptographically-secured transaction records (for example using         a public key); and     -   only add the one or more cryptographically-secured transaction         records to the publicly-available distributed ledger if the         verification routine is successful.

The third party node may be configured to perform the verification routine by processing the publicly-available distributed ledger in order to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient energy to perform the transaction. The third party node may be configured to perform the verification routine by processing the publicly-available distributed ledger in order to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient energy-generating capacity (which may be referred to as power) available to perform the transaction.

The publicly-available distributed ledger may comprise a balance of available energy-generating capacity or energy available for each energy resource. The third party node may be configured to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient available energy-generating capacity or energy to perform the transaction by comparing at least part of the transaction record with the balance of available energy-generating capacity or energy available for the energy resource associated with the transaction.

The publicly-available distributed ledger may comprise a plurality of blocks of data, wherein each block of data comprises information representative of:

-   -   one or more transaction records; and     -   a cryptographic hash value of at least a part of a previous         block in the ledger.

The publicly-available distributed ledger may comprise a block chain.

The energy resource network may further comprise a third party node configured to:

-   -   process one or more cryptographically-secured transaction         records; and     -   determine a new block of data for the publicly-available         distributed ledger by determining the cryptographic hash value         by applying a hash algorithm to at least a part of a previous         block in the publicly-available distributed ledger.

The third party node may be configured to determine the cryptographic hash value by applying the hash algorithm to:

-   -   at least a part of an immediately preceding block in the ledger;     -   the one or more transactions; and     -   a cryptographic nonce value.

The third party node may be configured to:

-   -   generate cryptographic hash values for a plurality of different         cryptographic nonce values;     -   identify a determined cryptographic hash value as valid if it         satisfies one or more predetermined characteristics; and     -   broadcast a new block of data, comprising the valid         cryptographic hash value, for inclusion in the         publicly-available distributed ledger.

The part of the immediately preceding block in the ledger may be the cryptographic hash value of the immediately preceding block in the ledger.

One or more of:

-   -   the issue of offer-messages by the energy resource via the         network;     -   an acceptance of offer-messages by the energy consuming devices;     -   an issue of acceptance-messages by the energy consuming devices         in acceptance of an offer-message;     -   processing of acceptance-messages by a third party for inclusion         in a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed         ledger of acceptance-messages; and     -   a physical exchange of energy between the energy resource and         the energy consuming device;

may be controlled based on a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of acceptance-messages and/or a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of transactions.

The energy-resource-processors may be configured to automatically issue an offer-message if an available amount of energy (for example, energy-available-value), or an available capacity for providing energy (for example, power-rating), exceeds a high-energy-threshold level.

The energy-consuming-processors may be configured to automatically accept or reject an offer-message by comparing one or more pieces of information of the offer-message with one or more predetermined acceptance-criteria.

The processor of each energy-consuming-device or each energy resource may be configured to generate the cryptographically-secured transaction record using a private key.

The transaction record may comprise information representative of an acceptance of the quantum of energy and/or a debit of an account associated with the energy-consuming-device.

Each offer-message may comprise information representative of one or more of: a quantum of energy; a generating capacity of the energy resource; a time window; a price.

The energy-resource-processor of each energy resource may be configured to issue a cryptographically-secured offer record for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.

The energy resource network may further comprise a metering apparatus. The metering apparatus may be configured to generate a cryptographically-secured transaction record of metered units of energy transferred between an energy resource and an energy-consuming-device counterparties.

There may be provided an energy-consuming-device configured to consume quanta of energy from one or more energy resources, the energy-consuming-device comprising:

-   -   optionally, a load device;     -   an energy-consuming-processor configured to:         -   (i) receive offer-messages in respect of quanta of energy             available for supply from one or more energy resources; and         -   (ii) in response to accepting an offer-message in respect of             a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one or             more of the energy resources, issue a             cryptographically-secured transaction record of the             transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available             distributed ledger.

There may be provided an energy resource configured to deliver quanta of energy to one or more energy-consuming-devices, the energy resource comprising:

-   -   an energy-resource-processor configured to:         -   (i) issue offer-messages in respect of quanta of energy             available for supply from the energy resource; and         -   (ii) in response to having an offer-message in respect of a             transaction for delivering a quantum of energy to an             energy-consuming-device accepted, issue a             cryptographically-secured transaction record of the             transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available             distributed ledger.

There may be provided a device for updating a publicly-available distributed ledger for an energy resource network, the network comprising:

-   -   a plurality of energy resources each capable of delivering a         quantum of energy;     -   a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of         accepting a quantum of energy;     -   each energy resource being associated with an         energy-resource-processor configured to issue one or more         offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for         supply from the energy resource; and     -   each energy-consuming-device being associated with an         energy-consuming-processor configured to receive one or more         offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a         quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; wherein     -   the device is configured to receive, from the         energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor,         a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the         transaction and include said record within a publicly-available         distributed ledger.

There may be provided a method of operating an energy resource network, the energy resource network comprising:

-   -   a plurality of energy resources; and     -   a plurality of energy-consuming-devices;

wherein the method comprises:

-   -   an energy resource issuing one or more offer-messages in respect         of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy         resource;     -   an energy-consuming-device receiving one or more offer-messages         in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy         from one of the energy resources; and     -   issuing a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the         transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available         distributed ledger.

There may be provided a computer program, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to configure any apparatus, including an energy resource network, an energy resource, an energy-resource-processor, an energy-consuming-device, an energy-consuming-processor, a third party node, a circuit, controller, or device disclosed herein or perform any method disclosed herein. The computer program may be a software implementation, and the computer may be considered as any appropriate hardware, including a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, and an implementation in read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) or electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), as non-limiting examples. The software may be an assembly program.

The computer program may be provided on a computer readable medium, which may be a physical computer readable medium such as a disc or a memory device, or may be embodied as a transient signal. Such a transient signal may be a network download, including an internet download.

DRAWINGS

Aspects of Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an energy resource network;

FIG. 2 shows schematically an example of a publicly-available distributed ledger; and

FIG. 3 shows another energy resource network.

The disclosure and the following further disclosure are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure, as defined in the appended claims. Other aspects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the details as provided herein. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. All callouts and annotations are hereby incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein.

FURTHER DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1 shows an energy resource network 100, which includes a first energy resource 102, a second energy resource 104, a first energy-consuming-device 106 and a second energy-consuming-device 108. It will be appreciated that the energy resource network 100 can include any number of energy resources and any number of energy-consuming-devices. The energy resources 102, 104 can deliver a quantum of energy, and the energy-consuming-devices 106, 108 can accept/consume a quantum of energy.

A purpose of the energy resource network 100 is to enable an energy-consuming-device 106, 108 to acquire energy from an energy resource 102, 104, in a peer-to-peer manner, and to provide an accurate representation of how energy is exchanged in the network. As will be discussed in more detail below, this can be achieved by recording transactions on a publicly-available distributed ledger. Use of such a distributed ledger can remove, or reduce, any disadvantages associated with a centralised recordal system and can maintain a high integrity of the data stored in the ledger. In this way, an alternative system for facilitating one or more aspects of controlling, monitoring and implementing energy exchange between energy generators and energy consumers can be provided.

The energy-consuming-device 106, 108 and the energy resource 102, 104 are in data communication through a data exchange network 120, such as the internet, or any other communications network including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.

The energy resources 102, 104 can be any resource that is capable of supplying an amount of energy at a given time. An energy resource 102, 104 may have a known power-rating, which can be considered as a capacity for supplying energy. The energy resource 102, 104 could be a conventional power station (gas, oil, coal, nuclear, etc.) having a well-defined capacity for providing energy at any given period of time; a renewable energy supply (wind, solar, tidal, etc.) having a variable capacity at any given period of time; or an alternative generator system such as hydrogen-based fuel cells, pumped storage etc. Hydrogen-based fuel cells and fuel cell stacks can have a known capacity for providing energy. For example, a hydrogen-based fuel cell may have a power-rating that is determined by a number of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, and the size of an active area of the fuel cells. Some energy resources 102, 104 may have a defined, but not constant over time, capacity for providing energy (power-rating) based on environmental conditions, for example a wind turbine's power-rating may be based on wind speed.

The energy resources 102, 104 can also have an energy-available-value, which defines an amount of energy that is available for supply. For energy resources 102, 104 that consume a fuel, such as a hydrogen-based fuel cell stack, the energy-available-value may define a quantity of fuel that the fuel cell stack has access to.

The energy-consuming-devices 106, 108 can be any apparatus, device or network that is capable of consuming energy, or providing an electrical load to an energy resource 102, 104 within a specified time period. An energy-consuming-device can be a portable computing device, such as a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a tablet computer or a laptop computer. In some examples the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 may be, or may include, an energy storage system such as a battery. The energy-consuming-devices 106, 108 can also provide the functionality of an energy resource in some examples.

The first and second energy resources 102, 104 have associated energy-resource-processors 110, 112. It will be appreciated that the energy-resource-processors 110, 112 need not necessarily be co-located with the associated energy resources 102, 104. The energy-resource-processors 110, 112 can issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the associated energy resource 102, 104. For example, a user associated with an energy resource 102, 104 may provide input to the energy-resource-processors 110, 112 representative of a desire to provide energy to an energy-consuming-device 106, 108.

In some examples, the energy-resource-processors 110, 112 may automatically issue an offer-message if an available amount of energy (energy-available-value), or an available capacity for providing energy (power-rating), exceeds a high-energy-threshold level. In some examples, such offer-messages may be issued in response to the receipt of an energy-request-message from an energy-consuming-device 106, 108. The automatic exchange of such messages can enable an effective and efficient energy network to be maintained.

The offer-message can be completely public, for example broadcast to an entire network, or can broadcast only to a subset of energy-consuming-devices 106, 108.

The offer-message may include information representative of one or more of:

-   -   an identifier of the energy resource 102, 104 making the offer;     -   an identifier of one or more energy-consuming-devices 106, 108         to which the offer is made. This can allow         personalised/non-public offers to be made;     -   a quantum of energy being offered, which may be:         -   an amount of energy that is being offered;         -   an available generating capacity that is being offered;     -   a generating capacity of the energy resource 102, 104, which in         some examples can be used as the quantum of energy being         offered;     -   a start time, an end time, and/or a time window during which the         offer is valid;     -   a price; and     -   a proposed transaction record, which is described in more detail         below.

A quantum of energy specified in an offer can represent an ability to draw on a specified maximum number of watts (an instantaneous load value) for the duration of a specified time period or could be a total amount of energy to be delivered over a specified time period, whether or not the energy transfer actually takes place either in part or in full. The specified period may or may not have a predetermined end time.

In some examples, the offer-message can be cryptographically secured so that recipients can confirm the identity of the energy resource 102, 104 that is making the offer. That is, the energy-resource-processor 110, 112 can encrypt the offer-message using a private key associated with the energy-resource-processor 110, 112 and/or associated with a user of the energy resource 102, 104. This can advantageously secure the integrity of the offer-message.

In some examples, cryptographic securing of public offers from energy resources 102, 104 could be digitally signed by secure modules that check or confirm the integrity of the energy resource, its maximum capacity, its market authorisation, etc.

The first and second energy-consuming-devices 106, 108 have associated energy-consuming-processors 114, 116. Again, the energy-consuming-processors 114, 116 need not necessarily be co-located with the associated energy-consuming-devices 106, 108. The energy-consuming-processors 114, 116 can receive and process one or more offer-messages that are received from energy resources 102, 104. This processing may involve displaying to a user of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 one or more of the pieces of information that is included in the offer-message. The user of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 can then provide input to the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 indicative of a desire to accept or reject the offer.

In some examples, the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 may be configured to automatically accept or reject the offer by comparing one or more of the above pieces of information in the offer-message with one or more predetermined acceptance-criteria. In this way, the energy-consuming-processors 114, 116 can automatically accept one or more offers in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources.

If the offer is rejected, then the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 may send an offer-rejection message to the energy resource 102, 104 that made the offer. Alternatively, the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 may simply ignore the offer-message by not responding to it, if it rejects the offer.

If the offer is accepted, then the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 may send an offer-acceptance-message to the energy resource 102, 104 that made the offer. The offer-acceptance-message may include information representative of one or more of:

-   -   an identifier of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 that         accepts the offer;     -   an identifier of the energy resource 102, 104 that made the         offer;     -   a quantum of energy that has been accepted, which may be:         -   an amount of energy; or         -   a generating capacity of the energy resource 102, 104;     -   a start time, an end time, and/or a time window during which the         offer is accepted;     -   a price; and     -   a proposed transaction record, which is described in more detail         below.

In some examples, the offer-acceptance-message can be cryptographically secured so that recipients can confirm the identity of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 that is accepting the offer. That is, the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 can encrypt the offer-acceptance-message using a private key associated with the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 and/or associated with a user of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108. This can advantageously secure the integrity of the offer-acceptance-message.

In some examples, the same types of information can be included in the offer-message and the offer-acceptance-message, but with different values. For example, an energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 may make a conditional acceptance of an offer, for example conditional upon a revised price being acceptable to the energy-resource-processor 110, 112. In this way, the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 can modify one or more of the pieces of information received in an offer-message and send the modified information back to the energy-resource-processor 110, 112 as part of an offer-acceptance-message. This can enable a user of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 to indicate an acceptance of a whole or a part of an offered quantum of energy from an energy resource, optionally during or for a given time period.

If the offer is accepted, then either or both of the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 and the energy-resource-processor 110, 112 can generate a transaction record using information from the offer-message and/or acceptance-message. The transaction record can encode an acceptance of the quantum of energy and/or can be used to debit an account associated with the energy-consuming-device 106, 108. The transaction record can include information representative of one or more of:

-   -   an identifier of the energy resource 102, 104 that is to deliver         the energy;     -   an identifier of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 that is to         receive the energy;     -   a quantum of energy that is to be delivered, which may be:         -   an amount of energy that is being offered;         -   an amount of generating capacity of the energy resource 102,             104;     -   an amount of generating capacity of the energy resource 102, 104         that remains unallocated;     -   a start time, an end time, and/or a time window during which the         quantum of energy that is to be delivered; and     -   a price.

In some examples, energy may be delivered by the energy resource to the energy-consuming-device through a USB connection, optionally a bi-directional USB connection. In this example, the energy-consuming-processor 114, 116 and/or the energy-resource-processor 110, 112 can issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction. For example, one or both of the processors can encrypt the transaction record using a private key to generate the cryptographically-secured transaction record, wherein the private key is unique to a registered user of the energy resource 102, 104 or a user of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108, or is unique to the associated hardware/device.

The cryptographically-secured transaction record can be broadcast to the network 120 such that it is accessible by all nodes/devices in the network 120. A single third party node 118 is shown in FIG. 1, with an associated third-party-processor 122. As will be discussed below, the third-party-processor 122 can be programmed to include details of a transaction that is represented by the cryptographically-secured transaction record within a publicly-available distributed ledger. In practice, there can be a plurality, and often a great many, third party nodes that are competing to be the first node to add the transaction to the ledger. Optionally, the third-party-processor 122 can also verify the transaction, and only include details of the transaction within the publicly-available distributed ledger if the verification is successful.

The functionality of including the transaction on the ledger, and optionally verifying the transaction, may be performed in a similar way to how Bitcoin transactions are processed before being added to a block chain. Such processing can be implemented in a number of different ways, for example depending upon the type of transaction, as discussed below. FIG. 2 shows schematically an example of information that can be included in blocks 202, 204 of a publicly-available distributed ledger 200, which can be used with at least some of the examples disclosed herein. The ledger 200 can be locally stored and maintained by a plurality of, and in some examples all, nodes in the network, which is why it is referred to as distributed. As will be discussed below, when a new block 202, 204 is to be added to the ledger 200, it is distributed to all nodes in the network for inclusion in their local copy of the ledger 200. In the event that two new blocks are identified by different parties at similar times and are broadcast for inclusion in the ledger 200, then the new block that is accepted into the ledger 200 will be the block that has been added to the majority of the local copies of the ledger 200, in particular by the majority of nodes at the time that the next block is to be added. In this way, an accepted new block is defined by a consensus/majority of the nodes in the network. As will be discussed below, an approximate time delay between successive blocks 202, 204 being added to the ledger 200 can be defined by setting the computational complexity of operations that must be performed before a new block can be added.

FIG. 2 shows a first block 202 of data and a second block 204 of data. Each of the first and second blocks of data 202, 204 include information representative of one or more transactions 210, 212, and a cryptographic hash value 206, 208. The cryptographic hash value 206, 208 is the result of the application of a cryptographic hash function/algorithm that has been applied to at least a part of a previous block in the ledger 200. Use of the cryptographic hash value 206, 208 can mean that the blocks 202, 204 are linked together in a defined sequence, with each block linked to an earlier block by the hash. In this example, the ledger 200 can be referred to as a block chain because it includes a plurality of blocks of data, that are “linked together” to define a chain. Also, it is not possible to begin processing the second block 204 until the first block 202 has been accepted into the ledger 200 because determination of the hash value 208 for the second block 204 requires details of at least part of the first block 202.

As is known in the art, a hash algorithm can be applied to an arbitrarily-large amount of data (such as the previous block) in order to provide a fixed-length hash value. The same fixed-length hash value will always result from the same arbitrarily-large amount of data. Over time, new blocks of data are added to the end of the block chain in order to publicly record new transactions. Each new block is guaranteed to come after the previous block chronologically because the new block's hash value cannot be calculated until the previous block is accepted into the ledger 200. Also, each block 202, 204 is computationally impractical to modify once it has been accepted into the ledger 200 because every block 202, 204 after it would also have to be regenerated.

The cryptographic hash value 208 of the second block 204 can be determined by applying a hash function to:

-   -   at least a part of a previous block 202 in the ledger 200. The         previous block 202 may be the immediately preceding block. The         part of the previous block 202 may be the hash value 206 of the         immediately preceding block 202;     -   the one or more transactions 212 (of the current block 204); and     -   a cryptographic nonce value (not shown).

A third-party-processor that receives details of the one or more transaction records 212, and intends to add a new block 204 to the ledger 200, must first determine a cryptographic hash value 208 that satisfies one or more predetermined characteristics before the new block 204 can be added to the ledger 200. That is, a new block 202, 204 cannot be added to the ledger 200 until a valid cryptographic hash value 208 has been determined. This process can be referred to as “mining” and the third-party-processor may be referred to as a “miner”. The one or more predetermined characteristics may be a specified number of leading zero bits, as is the case with the block chain that is associated with Bitcoins. The third-party-processor can apply the hash algorithm using different cryptographic nonce values until a valid cryptographic hash value 208 with the predetermined characteristics is achieved. In response to determining the valid cryptographic hash value 208 with the predetermined characteristics, the third-party-processor can generate a new block 204 that includes at least the cryptographic hash value 208 and the associated transaction records 212, and then broadcast/distribute the new block 204 to all nodes in the network for inclusion in their local copies of the ledger 200.

It will be appreciated that different third party processors may simultaneously be trying to identify a new block based on different transaction records; that is, the transaction records identified for inclusion in the ledger 200 by each third party processor need not necessarily be the same. As indicated above, in the event that two potential new blocks are identified by different third party processors at similar times, then the accepted new block is defined by a consensus of the nodes in the network. The computational requirements of generating the hash value 208 with the predetermined characteristics dictates that the next block cannot be added too soon after the previous block so that there is sufficient time for the previous block to be distributed throughout the network and a consensus to be determined as to which of the two blocks is to be accepted into the ledger 200.

As the processing power of computers increases over time, the computational complexity of arriving at a valid hash value 208 can be increased by changing the required predetermined characteristics. For example, the number of leading zeros required of the hash value 208 can be increased. In this way, the requirements of the cryptographic hash value 208 dictates a time delay between successive blocks 202, 204 being added to the ledger 200. The length of the time delay can be defined by the computational complexity required to satisfy the requirements of the cryptographic hash value 208.

In some implementations, the third party processors may be rewarded for successfully adding a block 202, 204 to the ledger. For example, one or both of the energy resource and the energy-consuming-device may pay a transaction fee to the specific third party processor that successfully adds an associated transaction record to the ledger 200. Such a transaction fee may only be paid upon confirmation that the transaction record has been added to a minimum number of locally-stored copies of the ledger 200. This can reduce the likelihood that a transaction fee is paid to a third party processor that generates a candidate block for adding to the ledger 200, only for it to be dismissed because another block, generated at a similar time, is accepted as valid by a majority of third party processors.

The information representative of one or more transactions 210, 212 can include information derived from the transaction records discussed above with reference to FIG. 1.

The third party processors, in determining a new block for adding to the ledger 200, may also perform verification processing on the transactions in order to determine whether or not the transactions should be included in the ledger 200. In one example, a verification routine can include comparing any seemingly unverified transactions with transactions 210, 212 that are already present in the ledger 200. This can prevent a single transaction being recorded in the ledger 200 twice because the verification routine will fail for a transaction that is not already present in the ledger 200.

Another verification routine can include checking that an energy resource has sufficient available energy or capacity to satisfy a transaction, as will be discussed below.

Use of ledger, such as the one described with reference to FIG. 2, can provide accurate visibility of how energy is exchanged between various devices. That is, the ledger can represent the real-world energy characteristics of devices, and accurately display how those characteristics change over time. In some examples, a distributed nature of the ledger, and a requirement for a consensus on the accuracy of the ledger, can provide the required accuracy, and integrity in the data on the ledger. Optionally, the integrity of the data on the ledger can be further improved by implementing the ledger as a plurality of blocks of data, wherein each block of data comprises a cryptographic link to a previous block in the ledger.

Another option to improve the integrity of the data on the ledger is to only accept data onto the ledger after it has successfully passed a verification routine.

A further advantage to using a publicly-verified distributed ledger is that the information on the ledger can be considered trustworthy, for example because transactions are only recorded if the ledger is indicative of the fact that the energy resource has the requisite capacity to provide the amount of energy that has been offered, such as within a specified time widow.

Public verifiability of the encrypted ledger can also provide a basic mechanism for an energy “market”—users of energy resources can see how much resource is available within the (global) network and set a price accordingly; users of energy-consuming-devices can also see how much resource is available within the network and the pricing, and can then decide to buy or not buy according to need.

A publicly-verifiable, cryptographically-secured record of the transaction, or acceptance of the offer, can serve as a non-repudiatable commitment to the transaction by an energy-consuming-device. This could be a precursor to a separate payment mechanism that operates subsequently, or could include an actual payment mechanism itself, if the public ledger also serves as an “energy currency” in similar manner to Bitcoin.

A publicly-verifiable, cryptographically-secured transaction record or the acceptance-message can in some examples be supplemented by a further cryptographically-secured record of the actual energy transfer. That is, a cryptographically-secured “meter reading”.

This could be provided by tamper-proof metering hardware, such as a smart meter. Any such cryptographically-secured meter readings or records of actual completed energy transfers can in some examples assist in a downstream payment system.

A publicly-verifiable, cryptographically-secured ledger can be data-mined by third parties for analysing trends in energy consumption, energy usage, potential demand, matching between energy resources and energy-consuming-devices; pricing etc.

A publicly-verifiable, cryptographically-secured ledger can be data-mined by third parties to verify that an energy resource has capacity to provide the quantum of energy associated with an offer that it has made, based on earlier transactions that are recorded on the ledger. The transaction may only be recorded on the ledger if the verification is successful.

In some examples, the acceptance-messages and/or the offer-messages described above can also be included within the ledger of FIG. 2, or another ledger. This or these ledgers can enable public visibility of “consumption” (for example booking or reservation) of available energy resource in a given time period, in some examples before the event of energy transfer or before the event of an energy-consuming-device going “on load” to an energy resource. By providing public visibility of this acceptance, a market can be able to respond to remaining available energy resource capacity in the network, for example by re-pricing the remaining available energy resource.

Inclusion of offer-messages in the ledger of FIG. 2, or a different ledger, can enable a market to respond to available energy offers, and it can help to prevent disruptive offers from energy resources that are not in fact capable of delivering because the ledger is publicly visible and is secure in that historical information in the ledger cannot be readily manipulated.

In some examples the acceptance-messages may be included with the ledger of FIG. 2, or another ledger. The acceptance-message may include a time frame for completing the energy transaction, which is also recorded in the ledger. On sending of an offer-message by an energy resource 102, 104 or receipt of an offer-message by an energy consuming device, the ledger of acceptance-messages may be used to determine whether said offer-message comprises a valid offer and therefore control whether or not said offer-message can be accepted with an acceptance-message. As a public, distributed ledger is used to verify offers made by energy resources 102, 104 it reduces the risk or removes the risk of an energy resource committing to offers of energy that cannot be fulfilled, such as within the specified time-window. Accordingly, an energy resource may be prevented from offering more energy than they can supply at a particular time or in a particular time window, as the publicly-verifiable, cryptographically-secured ledger of acceptance messages can be used to control

-   -   i) the issue of offer-messages by the energy resource via the         network;     -   ii) the acceptance of offer-messages by the energy consuming         devices     -   iii) the issue of acceptance-messages by the energy consuming         devices; or     -   iv) the processing of acceptance-messages by the third party.

For example, if the third party refuses to process the acceptance message into the ledger because the offer of energy could not be fulfilled by the energy resource, an attempt to physically exchange energy may be prevented because a record of the acceptance-message is not present in the publically verifiable, cryptographically-secured ledger of acceptance messages.

Further, a public, cryptographically-secured distributed ledger of energy transactions may also be used to control the issue or acceptance of offer-messages. In particular, an energy consuming device or third party or energy resource may compare a public ledger of acceptance-messages and a public record of energy transactions to determine which energy transfers have been accepted but not fulfilled to determine an outstanding transaction parameter. The sending of offer-messages or acceptance of offer messages as valid or the sending of acceptance-messages may be controlled by the outstanding transaction parameter, which may ensure that energy resources do not over commit to the supply of energy that they may not be able to fulfil.

The use of the publicly-verifiable, cryptographically-secured ledgers (of energy transactions, offer-messages and/or acceptance-messages) to control the issue of offer-messages by the energy resources, the acceptance of offer-messages as valid by the energy consuming devices, the issue of acceptance-messages by the energy consuming devices, the recording of transaction-messages in a transaction ledger by either the energy consuming device, energy resource or third party, and/or the physical energy exchanges may provide for a more secure system, as discussed in more detail below.

Returning to FIG. 1, one or more energy-resource-managing-entities (not shown) may store details of authorised energy-resources 102, 104. An energy-resource-managing-entity can store a database that includes details of one or more of:

-   -   an identifier of an energy resource 102, 104;     -   a power-rating of the energy resource 102, 104; and     -   in some examples, an amount of energy that the energy resource         102, 104 can make available for supplying to an         energy-consuming-device 106, 108.

A publicly-available distributed ledger may be automatically updated when changes are made to an energy-resource-managing-entity's database. For example, when a new energy resource 102, 104 is commissioned or its power-rating changes, the new information may be automatically transferred onto the publicly-available distributed ledger. In some examples, this can be implemented by the energy-resource-managing-entity sending an energy-resource-update-message for public verification in the same way as transaction records, as discussed above.

Transacting Energy Generating Capacity (Power)

In some examples, the energy resource 102, 104 may offer some or all of its energy generating capacity. The publicly-available distributed ledger may include an entry that indicates the maximum energy generating capacity (power-rating) of each energy resource 102, 104. This entry may be made when an energy resource 102, 104 is commissioned, for example. A subsequently issued transaction record may therefore be publicly verifiable because any third party 118 can process the ledger to determine whether or not the energy resource 102, 104 has sufficient unreserved capacity to supply the energy required to satisfy the transaction. The acceptance by an energy-consuming-device 106, 108 of such an offer may be publicly recorded on the publicly-available distributed ledger so that it can be processed in order to verify any subsequent transactions involving the energy resource 102, 104 before the subsequent transactions are recorded in the ledger.

In some examples, the ledger (optionally each block in the ledger) comprises a balance of available energy-generating capacity (power) and/or an energy-available-value for each energy resource 102, 104. The third party 118 can then determine whether or not an energy resource 102, 104 associated with the transaction has sufficient available energy-generating capacity (power) or available energy to perform the transaction by comparing at least part of the transaction record with the balance of available energy-generating capacity or energy-available-value for the energy resource 102, 104 that is associated with the transaction.

In one example, Party A is an energy resource, Party B is an energy-consuming-device, and Party C is another energy-consuming-device. Party A has a 10 kW capacity (power-rating) fuel cell stack, which is recorded on the ledger. This initial adding of the power-rating of Party A to the ledger may be performed in an authorised or authenticated way. At some time in the future, Party A sells 7 kW of capacity to Party B, and a corresponding transaction record is generated. This transaction record can be publicly verified with reference to the ledger because Party A is shown as having enough capacity available. Therefore the transaction of 7 kW from Party A to Party B is recorded on the ledger. Then, at some future point in time whilst Party B has reserved 7 kW of Party A's capacity, Party A tries to sell 4 kW to Party C. When the transaction record for this transaction is made available for public verification and inclusion in the ledger, the transaction is not verified because the verification routine will recognise from the ledger history that Party A only has 3 kW capacity available. Therefore the transaction to Party C will not be recorded on the ledger because it has not successfully passed the verification routine.

In some examples, either the energy resource 102, 104 or the energy-consuming-device 106,108 may submit a further transaction record to end a transaction. In the above example, this may involve Party B transferring the 7 kW capacity back to Party A, optionally for no cost.

As discussed above, transaction records can in some examples include an end time for a transaction, after which an energy-consuming-device should relinquish its energy consumption. In which case, the public verification will also require a check of the power-rating available during specific periods of time defined by a proposed transaction, and also earlier recorded transactions.

Transacting Available Energy

In some examples, the energy resource 102, 104 may offer some or all of its available energy. If the energy resource 102, 104 is or includes a fuel cell stack, then the amount of available energy may be defined by the amount of hydrogen fuel that is available to the fuel cell stack. In this example, the system may use a public ledger that is not necessarily publicly-verifiable or encrypted. A purpose of the public ledger is to make publicly available all transactions of energy in a network. The acceptance by an energy-consuming-device 106, 108 of an offer to supply energy is recorded on the public ledger so that it can be processed when verifying any subsequent transactions involving the energy resource 102, 104. In the same way as discussed above, the energy resource 102, 104 and/or the energy-consuming-device can send a transaction record for including in the public ledger. A transaction record can be sent before and/or after the energy is exchanged.

A post-energy-exchange-transaction record may include one or more of the following types of information, which can be included on the public ledger:

-   -   an identifier of a corresponding pre-energy-exchange-transaction         record, which can enable the two records to be linked together         in the ledger;     -   an identifier of the energy resource 102, 104 that delivered the         energy;     -   an identifier of the energy-consuming-device 106, 108 that         consumed the energy;     -   a quantum of energy that was agreed to be supplied, which may         be:         -   an amount of energy; or         -   an amount of generating capacity of the energy resource 102,             104;     -   a quantum of energy that was actually supplied, which may be:         -   an amount of energy that was supplied; or         -   an amount of generating capacity of the energy resource 102,             104 that was used by the energy-consuming-device 106, 108;     -   a difference between the quantum of energy that was agreed to be         supplied, and the quantum of energy that was actually supplied;     -   a start time, an end time, and/or a time window during which the         quantum of energy that is to be delivered;     -   an agreed price;     -   an amount of money that was actually paid;     -   a difference between the agreed price and the amount of money         that was actually paid;     -   a score for the energy resource 102, 104, for example a mark out         of 10 that has been provided by a user of the         energy-consuming-device 106, 108 after the energy has been         supplied; and     -   a score for the energy-consuming-device 106, 108, for example a         mark out of 10 that has been provided by a user of the energy         resource 102, 104 after the energy has been supplied.

The quantum of energy that was actually supplied may be provided by a smart meter, such as metering application software 119 associated with either or both of the energy resource 102, 104 and the energy-consuming-device 106, 108. Such information may be cryptographically-secured.

A public ledger that includes some or all of the above information can provide another basic mechanism for an energy “market”—users of energy-consuming-devices 106, 108 can monitor details of previous energy-supply-transactions that have been engaged in by specific energy resources 102, 104 within the (global) network and determine from which of the energy resources they wish to source their energy for a new transaction. Also, such an energy market can enable energy resources 102, 104 to set a price of energy for their future transactions. It will be appreciated that other advantages of the publicly verifiable encrypted ledger that are discussed above can also be achieved by the public ledger discussed in this example.

Examples disclosed herein can relate to a system for monitoring energy transactions and providing a transparent platform for people to engage in such energy transactions. This can improve visibility of what energy exchanges are really taking place, and can also define standard protocol for monitoring and recording transactions/energy exchanges.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of another energy resource network 300, which includes Device A 302, Device B 304, Device C 306 and Device D 308. The devices are in data communication with each other through the internet 320, which is an example of a data exchange network.

Consider that Device A 302 has surplus energy, and Device B 304 has depleting energy. Each device has an associated unique identifier through which it can transact over a secure area of the Internet (which is illustrated schematically as network 320 in FIG. 3). Depending upon various parameters such as location, time of year, geographical demand, etc. Device A 302 can fix up a price for a unit of energy. Device B 304 can see the price set by Device A 302 and can send a request for buying ‘n’ units of energy. If agreed, an equivalent amount of money is transferred from Device B 304 to Device A 302. The transaction can be in any standard currency or cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.

This transaction can be recorded in a block that will then be added to an energy block chain 330. The transaction details can include information such as the identity of the parties involved, amount of energy purchased, amount of energy left with Device A 302 and Device B 304, etc.

Now consider two other devices, Device C 306 and Device D 308, which are also energy deficient. Device A 302 has an option to sell energy to Device B 304, Device C 306, Device D 308, or all. There can now be an auction to obtain the energy from Device A 302 where the highest bidder wins the auction. There can be a limit on maximum bid one can raise. Again such a transaction can be recorded on the energy block chain 330.

Each device 302, 304, 306, 308 can have two associated wallets (similar to Bitcoin wallets), an energy wallet 332 keeping a count of energy and a currency wallet 336 keeping a count of currency. These wallets 332, 336 can be linked with two respective ledgers on the Internet 320; the energy block chain 330 and a currency block chain 334.

A monitoring station 338 can also be connected to the internet 320, such that it can track the transactions on the energy and currency block chains 330, 334. In this way, the monitoring station 338 can analyse the trend in energy consumption and data related to energy usage habits of the users. Such information can be used to seek potential energy providers, buyers, match right users, determine maximum pricing, etc.

Examples described herein relate to a decentralised energy exchange. A device with spare energy can directly engage in a transaction with a requesting power deficient device to provide requested units of energy. The transaction can be recorded in a public ledger. Several blocks of such transactions can form an energy block chain. That is, a block chain of energy exchange can be provided.

Energy transactions can be recorded and managed in a new way, for example by a decentralised transaction platform with central monitoring. Various advantages include:

-   -   No, or reduced, dependency on a central energy provider;     -   Option of choosing a preferred energy provider anytime;     -   Flexibility and transparency in payment;     -   No regulation on prices;     -   Transparent record of transactions;     -   Only pay when using (no need to pay bills when you are not at         home for long time); and     -   Generation of rich user data for various purposes.

Examples disclosed herein can enable energy producing/consuming devices to engage in energy sharing transactions through a transparent and decentralised platform. Similar to Bitcoins transactions being logged in a block chain (which is a public ledger), all energy transactions can be recorded in an energy block chain. If an energy source is a fuel cell stack, then the amount of energy (KWhs) can be limited by a lifespan of the stack, or an amount of fuel available, or an amount of energy generating capacity available. This can be analogous to limited Bitcoins in circulation. This limited availability of resource can be used to dictate the rules of such transactions, such as pricing and amount of energy available in a set period of time. Since the energy block chain will have a record of all energy transactions and the devices involved, it can be used for driving a whole ecosystem of peer to peer energy distribution.

It will be understood that various aspects or details of the invention(s) may be changed without departing from the scope of the disclosure and invention. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention(s). 

1. An energy resource network comprising: a plurality of energy resources each capable of delivering a quantum of energy; a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of accepting a quantum of energy; each energy resource being associated with an energy-resource-processor configured to issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource; each energy-consuming-device being associated with an energy-consuming-processor configured to receive one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; and, the energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor being configured to issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.
 2. The energy resource network of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third party nodes, each configured to locally store and maintain the publicly-available distributed ledger.
 3. The energy resource network of claim 2, wherein the third party nodes are each configured to identify, and store locally, a correct version of the publicly-available distributed ledger as the version of the publicly-available distributed ledger that is most commonly stored on the plurality of third party nodes.
 4. The energy resource network of claim 1, further comprising a third party node configured to: perform a verification routine on one or more cryptographically-secured transaction records; and, only add the one or more cryptographically-secured transaction records to the publicly-available distributed ledger if the verification routine is successful.
 5. The energy resource network of claim 4, wherein the third party node is configured to perform the verification routine by processing the publicly-available distributed ledger in order to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient energy to perform the transaction.
 6. The energy resource network of claim 4, wherein the third party node is configured to perform the verification routine by processing the publicly-available distributed ledger in order to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient energy-generating capacity available to perform the transaction.
 7. The energy resource network of claim 6, wherein the publicly-available distributed ledger comprises a balance of available energy-generating capacity or energy available for each energy resource, and wherein the third party node is configured to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient available energy-generating capacity or energy to perform the transaction by comparing at least part of the transaction record with the balance of available energy-generating capacity or energy available for the energy resource associated with the transaction.
 8. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein the publicly-available distributed ledger comprises a plurality of blocks of data, wherein each block of data comprises information representative of: one or more transaction records; and, a cryptographic hash value of at least a part of a previous block in the ledger.
 9. The energy resource network of claim 8, wherein the publicly-available distributed ledger comprises a block chain.
 10. The energy resource network of claim 8, further comprising a third party node configured to: process one or more cryptographically-secured transaction records; and, determine a new block of data for the publicly-available distributed ledger by determining the cryptographic hash value by applying a hash algorithm to at least a part of a previous block in the publicly-available distributed ledger.
 11. The energy resource network of claim 7, wherein the third party node is configured to determine the cryptographic hash value by applying the hash algorithm to: at least a part of an immediately preceding block in the ledger; the one or more transactions; and, a cryptographic nonce value.
 12. The energy resource network of claim 11, wherein the third party node is configured to: generate cryptographic hash values for a plurality of different cryptographic nonce values; identify a determined cryptographic hash value as valid if it satisfies one or more predetermined characteristics; and, broadcast a new block of data, comprising the valid cryptographic hash value, for inclusion in the publicly-available distributed ledger.
 13. The energy resource network of claim 10, wherein the part of the immediately preceding block in the ledger is the cryptographic hash value of the immediately preceding block in the ledger.
 14. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein one or more of: the issue of offer-messages by the energy resource via the network; an acceptance of offer-messages by the energy consuming devices; an issue of acceptance-messages by the energy consuming devices in acceptance of an offer-message; processing of acceptance-messages by a third party for inclusion in a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of acceptance-messages; and, a physical exchange of energy between the energy resource and the energy consuming device are controlled based on a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of acceptance-messages and a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of transactions.
 15. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein the energy-resource-processors are configured to automatically issue an offer-message if an available amount of energy, or an available capacity for providing energy, exceeds a high-energy-threshold level.
 16. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein the energy-consuming-processors are configured to automatically accept or reject an offer-message by comparing one or more pieces of information of the offer-message with one or more predetermined acceptance-criteria.
 17. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein the processor of each energy-consuming-device or each energy resource is configured to generate the cryptographically-secured transaction record using a private key.
 18. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein the transaction record comprises information representative of an acceptance of the quantum of energy and/or a debit of an account associated with the energy-consuming-device.
 19. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein each offer-message comprises information representative of one or more of: a quantum of energy; a generating capacity of the energy resource; a time window; a price.
 20. The energy resource network of claim 1, wherein the energy-resource-processor of each energy resource is configured to issue a cryptographically-secured offer record for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.
 21. The energy resource network of claim 1, further comprising a metering apparatus configured to generate a cryptographically-secured transaction record of metered units of energy transferred between an energy resource and an energy-consuming-device counterparties.
 22. An energy-consuming-device configured to consume quanta of energy from one or more energy resources, the energy-consuming-device comprising: an energy-consuming-processor configured to: (i) receive offer-messages in respect of quanta of energy available for supply from one or more energy resources; and, (ii) in response to accepting an offer-message in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one or more of the energy resources, issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.
 23. An energy resource configured to deliver quanta of energy to one or more energy-consuming-devices, the energy resource comprising: an energy-resource-processor configured to: (i) issue offer-messages in respect of quanta of energy available for supply from the energy resource; and, (ii) in response to having an offer-message in respect of a transaction for delivering a quantum of energy to an energy-consuming-device accepted, issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.
 24. A device for updating a publicly-available distributed ledger for an energy resource network, the network comprising: a plurality of energy resources each capable of delivering a quantum of energy; a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of accepting a quantum of energy; each energy resource being associated with an energy-resource-processor configured to issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource each energy-consuming-device being associated with an energy-consuming-processor configured to receive one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; and, wherein the device is configured to receive, from the energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor, a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction and include said record within a publicly-available distributed ledger.
 25. A method of operating an energy resource network, the energy resource network comprising: a plurality of energy resources; a plurality of energy-consuming-devices; wherein an energy resource issuing one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource; wherein an energy-consuming-device receiving one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; and, wherein issuing a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger. 